Submarine.



G. W. BEACH.

SUBMARINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10.1911.

2 SHEET$SHEET l- 1 ,277,028 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

avvwwfoz G. W.- BEACH. SUBMARINE. APPUCATION FILED MAY I0, I917.

1,277,028 Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IIIIIP (Juvenile-z m: Nuwms PETERS cu..rHOmLIYI-IQJWASHINO mu. 0. c.

Application filed May 10, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, Gnonen WATSON Bnaorr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Saybrook, in the county of Middlesex and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSubmarines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide simple and eflicient meansfor automatically supplying water to the submerging tank or tanks of asubmarine, in case the periscope is so damaged as to permit the leakageof water therethrough.

A further object is to so construct the periscope as to permit aninjured outer section thereof to be readily replaced.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention resides in thenovel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to behereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part ofthis application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a submarine with parts broken away andin section to show the improved features of construction; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the invention with parts inelevation.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates asubmarine vessel having a submerging tank 2 at its bottom, said tankbeing provided with the usual wash plates 8 which prevent the watertherein from surging forwardly and rearwardly. The water is admittedinto the tank 2 through a suitable water inlet 4: and may be expelledtherefrom by the usual means not shown.

A periscope 5 rises through the top of the vessel and includes a quicklyattachable and detachable upper section 6 having a suitable eye 7 at itsupper end, the latter being equipped with a lens 8 so mounted as toexclude water from the device, and with an optical prism 9 adjacent saidlens for directing rays of light downwardly through the periscope to thelower prism 10 which is properly positioned for use bythe lookout. Theperiscope passes through any suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

SUBMARI'NE.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

Serial No. 167,773.

stuffing box or the like 11 and may be rotated for observation in alldirections, by means of a hand wheel 12.

The lower portion of the periscope 5, or any other suitable portionthereof on the interior of the vessel, passes rotatably through a hollowhead 13 which is equipped with stufiing boxes 14 engaging saidperiscope, the latter having one or more openings 15 positioned in thehead 18 to place the two in communication. A pipe or other suitablepassage 16 leads from the head 13 to the central portion of thesubmerging tank 2. By this arrangement, injury to the upper section 6 ofthe periscope, when the vessel is awash as shown, in Fig. 1 will permitthe air in the submerging tank 2, to escape through the pipe 16 and itsconnection 1315 with said periscope. This escape of air from thesubmerging tank 2, permits the latter to automatically fill with waterthrough the inlet 4, so that the vessel is quickly submerged, the valves17 and 18 being normally open to permit the air to escape as stated. Theenemy is thus led to believe that the vessel has been sunk and anypossibility of ramming the submarine before submerging thereof, isprevented. Immediately upon submerging, the valves 17 and 18 are closedto prevent the water pressure at low depths from injuring the pipe 16.Even under such operation, it is necessary that this pipe and itscoacting parts be of extremely strong construction, due to the fact thatthe pressure on the exterior thereof is atmospheric only, whereas theinterior thereof is subjected to the pressure of a water head of severalfeet.

l/Vhile submerged, the submarine will travel to a zone of safety andwill then rise 5 to the surface by expelling a suitable quantity ofwater from the tank 2, by means of the usual air pumps or the like. Whencircumstances permit, the injured outer section 6 of the periscope maybe removed and a new one applied.

The periscope is provided with a suitable valve 17 which may be closedto prevent the further escape of air therethrough, after the ship hassubmerged to the required extent, and in most cases the pipe 16 will beequipped with a similar valve 18 positioned adjacent the tank 2.Needless to say, one or both of the valves 17 -.18, will remain closedwhile the pumps are in operation, in order that the air forced by thesepumps into the submerging tank 2, may not escape, but will force thewater from the tank.

It will be observed, that although my invention produces results notheretofore attained from the periscope, it does not pre vent successfuloperation of the latter, it being free to turn in any direction requiredAlso, by making the head 13 of sufficient length, the periscope mayslide vertically to project the eye 7 a greater or less distance abovethe top of the vessel.

In conclusion, I will state that the draw ings are for illustrativepurposes only and that I do not wish to be restricted ,to theconstruction shown thereby to any extent other than that to which theappended clanns hnnt me, since 1t is obvious that numerous minor changesmay be made within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1; The combination with a submersible vessel having a periseope and asubmerging tank, of means for automatically admitting water tosaid tankin case of injury to said eriscope, whereby to submerge the vessel.

ing a rotatable periscope and a submerging tank, of a hollow headthrough which said ieriscope passes rotatably, said periscope having anopening located in said head, and a passage leading from said submergingtank to said head for exhausting the air from said tank in case ofinjury to said periscope, whereby water may enter sald tank to submergethe vessel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presenceof twosubscribing witnesses.

GEORGE \VATSON BEACH, iVitnesses i MARK BROWN, E. LEWIS J onusoiv.

(Estates of patent maybe ebtaine lfer five cents each, by adflres singthe fbom missiener 0t Patents,

Washington, a, e.

